Regarding synthetic cannabinoids, they are CB1 full agonists and their effect is even stronger than Sinsemilla. Also, the presence of cardiovascular symptoms can help identify synthetic cannabinoid toxicity.

In this section, we’ll discuss cannabinoid pharmacology, cannabinoid receptors and endogenous ligands and synthetic cannabinoids, what they are and their effects.

Cannabinoid pharmacology

Modern cannabinoid research stems from elucidation of the structure of THC by Raphael Mechoulam and colleagues in the 1960s.

By the early 1990s, the molecular biology of cannabis was worked out. There were receptors on neurons, termed CB1 receptors. This is where THC was producing its effects. If a receptor for a drug like THC exists in the body, there are likely to be natural cannabis molecules as well. These were soon discovered.

The brain has a natural cannabinoid system, or endocannabinoid system. Since then, it has become clear that the endocannabinoid system is involved in neuronal communication, plasticity and learning in neuronal networks.

Cannabinoid CB1 receptors are expressed mainly in the CNS and mediate many of the psychoactive effects of cannabinoids.

There is another receptor, the CB2 receptor, which is expressed mainly in the immune system and in blood cells.

The best known endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligands are anandamides and 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG).

The exogenous cannabinoid agonists, such as THC do not recreate the fine-grained effects of the endogenous cannabinoids.

The spatial and time profile of endogenous cannabinoid signaling is tightly controlled.

In contrast, THC administered exogenously floods the system indiscriminately. Network functions such as information processing and memory are disrupted by exogenous CB1 agonists such as THC. Adverse effects on network dynamics underlie the psychological effects of cannabinoids.

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs)

From a pharmacological standpoint, synthetic cannabinoids are full agonists at the cannabinoid receptor, whereas THC is a partial agonist.

Synthetic cannabinoids have been called “legal highs”. This includes a range of substances that can be purchased online and were initially produced by research laboratories exploring potential medical uses.

Some examples include HU-210, the HU series being originally developed at the Hebrew University in Israel, and JWH-018. The JWH series was originally developed by JW Huffman.

These molecules are sprayed onto cannabis plants. These products are known and sold as “Spice” and “K2.”

While synthetic cannabinoids are full agonists at CB1 receptors, THC is known to be a partial agonist. As such, the synthetic cannabinoids impact upon this cannabinoid CB1 receptor with much greater force, and produce a correspondingly much greater effect on the psyche.

These molecules are even stronger than sinsemilla.

In London, we are now beginning to see more and more cases of psychosis attributable to synthetic cannabinoids. Catatonic posturing, bizarre behavior, grandiosity, persecutory ideation, disinhibition and aggression are common elements of synthetic cannabinoid toxicity.

Furthermore, the synthetic cannabinoids are not detected in standard urine drug screens.

Tachycardia, palpitations and chest pain can be associated features pointing to the correct diagnosis.

One worry is that the synthetic cannabinoids may be so powerful as to overwhelm the stabilizing properties of antipsychotic medication, even in injectable form. Quite often, the only solution is to admit patients to the hospital to allow respite from such potent cannabinoids.

The endocannabinoid system consists of receptors (CB1 and CB2 receptors), endogenous ligands (anandamide and 2‐arachidonoylglycerol).

Synthetic cannabinoids are full agonists at the CB1 receptor. Their effect is even stronger than sinsemilla.

The presence of cardiovascular symptoms can help identify synthetic cannabinoid toxicity.